Storage and retrieval arrangement

ABSTRACT

In a storage and retrieval arrangement, a rail mounted load carrier is adapted to move up and down aisles formed between spaced bin-type storage frames. The load carrier includes a pair of upstanding masts which rollably engage an overhead rail and a lift platform, carrying a pair of extendible forks, elevatable between the masts. A transfer car is provided to movably transfer the load carrier between the aisles by rolling along rails disposed upon the floor; the floor being at the same level as the floors in the aisles. The transfer car includes a bed having a plurality of load beams which support rollers and a plurality of rails which are adapted to be aligned with the rails of the aisles and receive the load carrier; the load beams and rollers being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance to provide direct support to the load carrier when the load carrier is being transferred. The transfer car is also adapted to simultaneously transfer a pick-up conveyor and delivery conveyor with the load carrier.

United States Patent Thompson [5 1 STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL ARRANGEMENT[75] Inventor: Harry W. Thompson, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: lnterlake Steel Corporation,

Chicago; Ill.

[22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 230,788

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 98,193, Dec.14, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 737,199, June14, 1968, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 2l4/l6.4 B, lO4/48 [51] Int. Cl. .L B65g 1/06 [58] Fieldof Search 2l4/l6.4 B; 104/48 1451 Apr. 23, 1974 Primary ExaminerGeraldM. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerR. Johnson Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff 57 ABSTRACT In a storage andretrieval arrangement, a rail mounted load carrier is adapted to move upand down aisles formed between spaced bin-type storage frames. The loadcarrier includes a pair of upstanding masts which rollably engage anoverhead rail and a lift platform, carrying a pair of extendible forks,elevatable between the masts. A transfer car is provided to movablytransfer the load carrier between the aisles by rolling along railsdisposed upon the floor; the floor being at the same level as the floorsin the aisles. The transfer car includes a bed having a plurality ofload beams which support rollers and a plurality of rails which areadapted to be aligned with the rails of the aisles and receive the loadcarrier; the load beams and rollers being spaced from each other by apredetermined distance to provide direct support to the load carrierwhen the load carrier is being transferred. The transfer car is alsoadapted to simultaneously transfer a pick-up conveyor and deliveryconveyor with the load carrier. 1

16 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEMFIR 23: mm

SHEET 01 [1F 10 k/flws BATE MEI] APR 2 3 1974 SHEET elfarr ylaT/zovgpsonlfarr ylfffiom 6 072 SHEET Son MWQ T3 llll WHHFJIIIII llllll Illa 13Marry PATENTEUAPR 23 mm 11805973 SHEET 10 [1F 10 152 /e 72 f0 7; Mary???0m .50 72 $3 @WW W 1 STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL ARRANGEMENT This is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 98,193 filed Dec. 14, 1970, whichapplication, in turn, wasa continuation of application Ser. No. 737,199,filed June 14, 1968, each now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION dled are of extremely heavy weight and/or oflarge size,

or where a number of articles must be simultaneously stored or removedon pallets, the aforementioned manual arrangements were unsatisfactory.Some of the advantages of the aforementioned arrangements were overcomeby the use of a fork lift truck. However, the fork lift truck alsopresented certain disadvantages in veying elements are also capable ofrepetitive use between the various aisles. Finally, the arrangementconstructed in accordance with the principles of my invention isextremely compact and reliable and avoids many personnel hazardspresented by previous arrangements, as well as being readily adapted tobe used in automated systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A storage and retrieval arrangement constructedin accordance with the principles of my invention includes a pluralityof storage frames separated from each other to define a plurality ofaisles therebetween. A load carrier is arranged to move longitudinallyin the aisles and'is adapted to store or remove articles from bins inthe storage frames. A transfer car is adapted to transfer the loadcarrier from one, aisle to another, thus enabling the load carrier to beused selectively in any of the aisles; the transfer car firmlysupporting the weight of the load carrier when the load carrier isdisposed upon the transfer car. The transfer car is movthat the width ofthe aisles must necessarily be ing creased to provide formaneuverability of the truck. Also personnel were still required toenter the storage area itself and the fork lift truck arrangementwas-not readily adapted to automated methods. Where a fork lift truckwas employed, severe limitations were also imposed on useable storageheight, due to the limitation of height within which a fork lift truckisoperable.

To overcome the disadvantages of the prior arrangements, various loadcarrying arrangements have been proposed. These arrangements generallyare characterized by a mechanical load carrier assembly which may bemoved longitudinally in the aisle formed between the storage bins. Suchload carriers may either be remotely controlled or manned by personneland generally include a lift platform which is adapted to be elevated tothe desired bin location. Since these load carriers are relatively largeand complex, each individual unit is quite expensive. Where a largenumber of storage frames and aisles are present in storage areas ofextensive size, it has been generally necessary to provide a loadcarrier in each of the aisles in which it is desired to realize theadvantages of the mechanical load carrier assemblies to store and removearticles from the bins. As a consequence, such multiple duplication ofequipment results in substantially increased equipment costs andconstruction. Frequently, this substantial cost increase rendered theassemblies prohibitive.

An arrangement constructed in accordance with the principles of myinvention substantially reduces the cost of extensive storageinstallations and virtually eliminates the need for a largenumber ofload carriers to service the bins, since a given load carrier may betransferred between aisles and thus may be used in a plurality of thestorage frame aisles. Moreover, preexisting arrangements may be readilyadapted to employ my arrangement without extensive cost orreconstruction of the storage area such as the provision of a pit toaccommodate the load carrier transfer arrangement. Not only is the loadcarrier of my arrangement capable of multiple aisle use, but necessaryload conable in the same horizontal plane as the floors of the aisles,obviating the need for a pit or other irregular structure for supportingthe transfer car.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood through a consideration of thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the course of this description,reference will frequently be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the storage andretrieval arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the storage frames and load carrier;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the load carrier;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned plan view of the load carrier taken alongline 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the load carrier lift platform;

FIG; 6 is a cross-sectioned and elevation view of the I lift platformtaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with a part of the end panel broken away;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the chain hoist and sprocket arrangementof the load carrier;

FIG. 8 is a view of an arrangement for anchoring some of the hoistchains to the lift platform taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view of an arrangement for anchoring the remainder of thehoist chains to the liftplatform taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of an adjustable chain hoist driveshaft and chain cover arrangement;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the adjustable drive shaft and chain covertaken along line 11 11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectioned side elevation view of the chain cover ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of an adjustable chain hoistidler'shaft arrangement;

FIG. 14 is an end elevation view of the adjustable ar- FIG. 20 is anenlarged view of the'roller, load beam, and rail arrangement of thetransfer car.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Description OfArrangement The overall general arrangement of the preferred embodimentof the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. In general, the arrangementincludes a plurality of storage frames 1, 2 and 3 comprising a pluralityof horizontal 4 and vertical 6 support members. The horizontal members 4directly support the stored articles 8. These articles may either belarge individual items spanning the distance between the horizontalsupport members 4 of each bin or they may be palletized as shown. Thevertical support members 8 rest upon the floor 10 of the storage areaand may extend up the ceiling thereof. Each of the banks of storageframes 1 and 2, 2 and 3 are spaced apart from each other by an aisles 12and 14. A pair of spaced parallel rails 16 are mounted upon the floor l0and an overhead rail 18 is mounted in the center of each aisle adjacentthe tops of the storage frames. A load carrier 20 is provided whichoperates between the respective storage frames 1, 2 and 3 in either ofthe aisles 14 or 16. The load carrier 20 is adapted to movelongitudinally up and down either of the aisles 12 and 14 and a liftplatform 22 is provided on the load carrier which is adapted tomove in avertical direction. The lift platform is equipped with forks 24 and 25which are movable to either side of the lift platform and are adapted toextend into the bins to depost or remove selected articles from storage.

A transfer car 26 is located adjacent the ends of th storage frames 1, 2and 3 and is adapted to move in a direction normal to the aisles l2 and14. When it is desired to transfer the load carrier 20 from one aisle toanother aisle, the load carrier is disposed upon the transfer car 26 andthe transfer car is moved to the aisle to which it is desired to operatethe load carrier. When the transfer car 20 is aligned with the lastmentioned aisle, the load carrier is then moved off the transfer car anddown the selected aisle. The transfer car 26 also supports and iscapable of transferring a pick-up conveyor 28 and a delivery conveyor 30for use in conjunction with the load carrier 20. Appropriate sliding busand conductor arrangement 31 and 3l are provided to supply power to thetransfer car and load carrier machinery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF'Tl-IE LOAD CARRIER gaging the parallel rails 16in the aisle l2 and providing for rolling support of the load carrier20. Offset toward' the center of the base 32 from its ends are a pair ofupwardly extending masts 38 and 40 which are rigidly mounted upon thebase 32 and are further supported by struts 41 running between the base32 and each of the masts. Located, at the top of each of the masts 38and 40 is a generally right angled frame member 42 and 44, respectively,extending away from the center of the load carrier and each carrying apair of spaced horizontal rollers 46 and 48 at their extreme ends. Therollers 46 and 48 are arranged to straddle the overhead rail 18 andprevent lateral movement of the top of the load carrier 20. Such lateralmovement might particularly be present clue to cantilever effectresulting when an article is being deposited or removed from one of thestorage bins by the extended forks 24 and 25.

The lift platform 32 is carried between the masts 38 and 40 and isadapted to be selectively raised and lowered througha series ofsprockets and chains which will be described in more detail later. Thelift platform 22 includes a generally rectangular bed 50 and a pair ofupstanding end panels 52 and 54 at either end of the bed adjacent masts38 and 40, respectively. Mounted upon the outer side of each of thepanels 52 and 54 are a pair of upper rollers 56 and lower rollers 58which are spaced from each other and straddle the webs of a componentchannel 59 on each side of their respective masts as shown in FIGS. 4and 5,the webs acting as guide members during the raising and loweringof the lift platform 22 to prevent the lift platform from swinging in alateral direction or tilting from cantilever effect. Mounted on theexterior side of end panel 52, is a fork operating motor 60. The forks24 are arranged on the upper side of the bed 50 and are adapted to betelescopically extended from either side of the bed to carrythe selectedarticles to be deposited in or removed from the respective storage bins.The construction of the forks and their drive arrangement will bedescribed in more detail later. I

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the lift platform is raised andlowered by a hoist lift motor 62 which is' mounted upon one end of thetrolley base 32. The hoist chain arrangement includes eight shaftscarrying suitable sprockets and mounted at various locations on the loadcarrier 20. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, shafts 64, 65 and 66 arerotatably mounted at the 'hoist lift motor end of the trolley base 32 onthe trolley base. Shafts 68 and 69 are also rotatably mounted on thetrolley base 32 but at the end opposite the hoist lift motor 62; shaft71 is rotatably mounted to mast 38 at its right angled frame 42vertically above shafts 64, 65 and 66; and shafts 73 and 74 arerotatably mounted upon the mast 40 at its upper end vertically aboveshafts 68 and 69. Shaft 64 carries four sprockets 76, 77, 78 and 79,sprocket 77 being a double sprocket, and

. shafts 65, 66 and 71 each carry three sprockets 81, 82

and 83, sprockets 82 being double sprockets. Shafts 68,

69, 73 and 74 each carry one sprocket 85, each of the sprockets 85 beinga double sprocket. The hoist lift motor 62 includes a drive shaft 86having a sprocket 87. Five drive chains are provided to raise and lowerthe platform 22. Drive chain 89 is trained about sprockets 79 and 87.Drive chain 90 extends from end panel 52 of the lift platform, oversprocket 81 on shaft 71, under sprocket 81 on shaft 65, around sprocket76, around sprocket 81 on shaft 66 and back to the lift platform. A pairof drive chains 91 and 92 extend from end panel 54 of the lift platform,are trained over double 78 on drive shaft 64, around sprocket 83 onshaft 66 and back to end panel 52. It will readily be seen when viewingFIGS. 4 and7 together, that the separation of the sprockets isexaggerated in FIG. 7 for the purpose of clarity. In actuality, thesprockets are located adjacent each other as shown in FIG. 4.

The double chains 91 and 92 are not continuous but are broken in theirvertical legs between shafts 68 and 73 and each of the ends are anchoredto the top and bottom of panel 54, as shown in FIG. 8, by a pin 94 and ablock 95. The block 95 is, in turn, pinned within the end panel 54 at 96such that the block may pivotally move about the pin 96. The singlechains 90 and 93, are also broken, as shown in FIG. 9, and the ends ofeach of the chains 90 and 93 carry a universal coupling 97, thecouplings being connected together by a looped segment of chain 98. Thecouplings 97 adapt the looped segment 98 to twist independently of thechains 90 and 93. The chain segments 98 are each trained about rollers99 which are rotatably mounted within the inside of the top and bottomof the end panel 52.

It will thus be seen that, in actuality, chains 90 and 93 form one longchain. Although the segments 98 are trained about rollers 99, it is notanticipated that the chains 90 and 93 will move a substantialamountabout the rollers during the actual raising and lowering of thelift platform. The rollers 99 provide an anchoring structure on theplatform for the chains and allow some play in the platform withrelation to the chains 90 and 93 during operation while providing foreven loading of the chains.

As an example, the direction of rotation of the various shafts,sprockets, and chains will be described where it is desired to raise thelift platform 22. The hoist lift motor 62 is energized driving driveshaft 86 and its sprocket 87 in a clockwise direction, drive chain 89 ina clockwise direction, sprocket 79 in a clockwise direction, and itsassociated shaft 64 in a clockwise direction. Rotation of shaft 64 in aclockwise direction, rotates sprockets 76, 77 and 78 in a clockwisedirection and chains 90, 91, 92 and 93 also in a clockwise direction.Thus, shafts 66, 69, 71 and 74 idle in a clockwise direction and shafts65, 68 and 73 idle in a counterclockwise direction. Since all the chainsare moving in a clockwise direction, each of the chains will exert anupward pull on their respective end panels 52 and 54 at their upperanchoring rollers 99 and blocks 95, respectively, and conversely thechains will be slackened at their lower anchoring rollers 99 and blocks95 and the lift platform 22 will rise. It will be readily apparent thatoperation of the hoist lift motor 62 in the opposite direction willdrive the chains in a counterclockwise direction lowering the liftplatform 22.

The above described multiple reeving arrangement is effective todistribute the load equally between each of the chains and, in turn,each of the chains exerts a balanced and equal lifting or lowering forceon the platform, since the chains each exert their lifting force onsymmetrically opposite ends of the platform in a vertica] direction andsince the same number of chains is provided at both ends of theplatform. Thus, twisting of the chains is avoided and uneven wear issubstantially reduced. Moreover, since each of the chains bears a loadwhich is substantially identical to the loads borne by the remainingchains, all the chains may be of the same specifications avoidingunnecessary spare part storage problems and allowing standardization.

It will be apparent when considering the disclosed reeving arrangement,that the lift platform is operable over substantially the entirevertical length of the masts. The upper ends of the end panels 52 and 54of lift platform 22 may be lifted to within only a few inches of the topof each of the masts 38 and 40, i.e., to the top of the masts less thediameter of sprockets 81, 82 and 83 on shaft 71 and sprocket 85 on shaft73. At the bottom of the masts, bed 50 of the lift platform 22 may belowered to the recessed bed between the masts 38 and 40, as shown inFIG. 3, of the trolley base 32. Itshould also be evident that thedescribed reeving arrangement may be readily adapted to load carriershaving various length lift platforms without necessitating thereplacement of any of the hoist arrangement components. To adapt theabove described reeving arrangement to load carriers of differentlengths, it is only necessary to add or remove links from the doublechains 91 and 92 to adjust their lengths. Similarly, the reevingarrangement may be readily adapted to load carriers having longer orshorter masts simply by adding or removing links from each of the chains90, 91, 92 and 93. Thus, the shafts, sprockets, etc., of the reevingarrangement may be prefabricated for and readily interchanged betweenload carriers of different sizes due to their uniformity.

An adjustable pillow block arrangement is also provided to mount certainof the aforementioned shafts on the load carrier. As shown in FIGS. 10and 11, the drive shaft 64 extends between and is journaled through apair of blocks which are adjustably suspended by bolts 101 from astationary member 102 fixed to each side of the frame of the trolley bed32. A chain guard 103 is fixed to and extends below a' horizontal plate103A, the plate being sandwiched between the blocks 100 and stationarymember 102. The bolts 101 extend through the plate. The chain guard 103carries ribs 1038 which are aligned with sprockets 76, 77 and 78 andextend into the center of each chain to confine and urge the chains 90,91, 92 and 93 into engagement with their respective sprocket teeth. Anelongated roller 104 may also be carried between the ends of the chainguide 103 to engage the chains and urge them into engagement with theirrespective sprocket teeth. An adjusting screw 105 is threaded through adownwardly extending flange of the stationary member 102 and is arrangedto bear against a tab 105A which extends downwardly from the plate 103Ato adapt the arrangement for horizontal adjustment. It should be notedthat the previously described, multiple chain. reeving arrangementallows chain guide protection around at least of the drive sprockets76,77 and 78, thus substantially eliminating the possibility of the chainsjumping from the drive sprockets.

To adjust the shaft 64, the bolts 101 are loosened and the adjustingscrew 105 is merely turned in the desired direction. As the screw 105 isturned, the shaft 64 with its sprockets and the plate 103A with itschain guard 103 and roller 104 move horizontally as a unit. When theshaft 64 has been positioned in its desired location, the bolts 101 aretightened locking the aforementioned elements in place.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, a second adjustable pillow block arrangement isshown for adjusting shaft 74 at the top of mast 40. Although not shown,another adjustable arrangement, like that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, isprovided on the frame of the bed 32 for allowing adjustment of shaft 69.Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a pair of blocks 100' are provided whichare' suspended from the right angled frame member 44 at the top of mast40 by bolts 101 extending through a horizontal portion 102 of the rightangled member 44. A tab 104' extends downwardly from beneath thehorizontal portion 102 and an adjusting screw 105 is carried by the tab104. The horizontal position of the shaft 74 is adjusted horizontally insubstantially the same manner as previously described with respect tothe pillow block arrangement shown in FIGS. and 11.

The adjustable mounting arrangements of shafts 64, 69 and 74 provide aready means of adjusting the tension of the chains 90, 91, 92 and 93without necessitating the-removal of links. For example, to remove slackfrom the chains, the bolts 101 are loosened and the adjusting screw 105is turned bearing on tab 105A and urging the plate 103A to the right, asviewed in FIGS. 10 and 11. As the plate 103A moves to the right, thechain guide 103, roller 104, the block 100 and the shaft 64 with itsassociated sprockets also moves to the right, increasing the tension onchains 90, 91, 92 and 93. When the shaft 64 has been moved to a locationwhere the chain tension desired obtains, the bolts 101 are againtightened locking the block 100, plate 103A and shaft 64 in place.

The provision of the adjustable arrangement on shafts 69 and 74 providesa means whereby the platform may easily be leveled. If, for example, thelift platform 22 is out of level-such that its panel 54 is lower thanpanel 52, the bolts 101', shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, areloosened freeingthe block 100 at the top of mast 40. Similarly the corresponding blockrotatably mounting shaft 69 at the bottom of mast 40 is also loosened.Shaft 74 is now moved to the left and shaft 69 to the right, as viewedin FIG. 7 lifting end panel 54 until it is disposed at the same level asend panel 52. The shaft mounting blocks are then secured in theirdesired position by tightening the bolts 101 It will again be evidentthat the lift platform 22 may readily be leveled without requiring theremoval of links from the lift chains or the expenditure ofexcessive'time or effort.

Although the hoist chain arrangement is shown employed in a load carrierhaving a floor running trolley base, it is contemplated that the hoistchain arrangement may be utilized in a load carrier in which the trolleybase is either overhead running or center running, i.e., where the mastsextend from each side of the trolley base and the trolley base runs at alevel intermediate the overhead and the floor. Of course in a centerrunning load carrier, the trolley base would be constructed to allow thelift platform to pass therethrough during the raising and lowering ofthe platform between the extremes of the upwardly and downwardlyprojecting masts.

Since a suitable electric connector must be electrically connected tothe fork operating motor 60 to provide a power source for the motor, anarrangement is provided to prevent fouling of the electrical connectionduring the raising and lowering of the lift platform. As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of appropriate conductor wires 106 are attached atone of their ends to a connector 108 on end panel 54 and at their otherends to connectors 110 on mast 40. The mast 40 carries a pair ofvertical guide members 112 and a pair of weighted pulley-like members114 which are adapted to ride up and down the guide members via rollers116 which straddle the guide members 112. Each conductor wire 106 islooped beneath a roller 118 on each of the pulleyJike members 114. Thusas the plateform 22 is raised, the loop of the conductors 106 is movedin an upward direction drawing each of the pulley-like members 114 withit upwardly along its guide member 112, the pulley-like member 114continuing to exert a downward force maintaining the conductors 106 in asubstantially taut condition. As the lift platform 22 is lowered, theloops are also lowered lowering each of the pulley-like members 114continuing to maintain the conductive 105 taut to prevent fouling.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the fork construction of the lift platformwill now be described. Each of the forks 24 and 25 comprises a pair ofspaced angle irons 120 and 122 rigidly bolted by bolts 124 to the bed50. Disposed between each of the angle irons 120 and 122, are a pair ofS-shaped side bars 126 and 128. Each of the side bars includes alongitudinal groove 130 on the face proximate the angle irons 120 and122 and another longitudinal groove 132 onthe opposite face. A pluralityof rollers 134 are rotatably mounted on the upstanding leg 136 of eachof the angle irons 120 and 122 by bolts 138, the rollers 134 extendinginto the longitudinal groove 130 and rollably supporting each of theS-shaped side bars 126 and 128. A T-bar 140 surmounts the S-shaped sidebars 126 and 128 and extends between the side bars. Rotatably mounted onthe vertical portion of each of the T-bars 140, are a plurality ofrollers 142 which extend into the longitudinal grooves 132 of theS-shaped side bars. Thus it will be seen, that the S-shaped side bars126 and 128 are longitudinally movable with respect to the angle irons120 and 122 and the T-bars 140 are longitudinally movable with respectto the S-shaped side bars. The bottom surface of at least one of theS-shaped side bars of each of the forks 24 and 25 carries rack teeth 144which engage with teeth of respective drive gears 1'46 and 148. Onedrive gear is provided for each of the forks 24 and 25; drive gear 146driving fork 24 and drive gear 148 driving fork 25. Also rotatablymounted to and between each of the S-shaped bars 126 and 128 are aplurality of gears 150. The teeth of gears 150 engage the teeth of botha fixed rack 152 which is secured to the bed 50 and a rack 154 which ismounted in a grooved portion 156 of the vertical portion of the T-bar140. When the drive gears 146 and 148 are driven, they rotate drivingthe rack 144 on the bottom of the S-shaped side bars. The side barstherefore move in longitudinal direction along the rollers 134 which aredisposed in grooves 130. The longitudinal movement of the S-shaped sidebars 126 and 128 carries the T-shaped side bars 140 in a longitudinaldirection. Superimposed upon the longitudinal speed caused by themovement of the S-shaped side bars 126 and 128, is the added speedresulting from the engagement of the gears 150 with the teeth of racks152 and 154, producing an increased longitudinal speed of the T-bars140. The gears .150, are carried along with the S-shaped side bars 126and 128, and

since they engage the fixed rack 152, the gears 150 are rotated. Sincethe gears 150 are also in engagement with the rack 154 in the T-bargroove 156, they drive that rack and its associated T-bar 140. The drivegears 146 and 148 are, in turn,driven by a pair of gears 158 and 160,respectively, which are driven via drive shaft 162. Refering to FIG. 6,the drive shaft 162 is rotated via sprockets 164 and 166 and chain 168which, in turn, are driven by the fork operating motor 60 which ismounted on an exterior side of end panel 52. It will be noted thatrotation of the fork operating motor 60 in one direction will telescopethe forks 24 and 25 to one side of the lift platform 22 and operation inthe opposite direction will retract the forks or extend them to theopposite side of the lift platform.

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the end of the trolley base 32opposite the hoist lift motor 62 includes a suitable drive motor 170 fordriving the load carrier horizontally along its aisle rails 16. Thedrive motor 170 is connected to a pair of transverse drive shafts 172via an appropriate gear box arrangement 174. A drive gear 176 is locatedat the terminal end of each of the drive shafts 172 drivingly engaging asuitable gear 178 rigidly affixed to the side of each of the pair ofrollers 36. Also disposed at the drive motor end of the trolley base 32is a control switch board 180 for controlling, via appropriateelectrical circuitry (not shown), the drive motor 170, hoist lift motor62 and fork operating motor 60 of the load carrier. Such circuitry isnot shown as it is not deemed to be the subject matter of the presentinvention. Although, the control switchboard is shown as being mountedupon the load carrier 7 20. It will be readily apparent that it may beremotely located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF'THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT Referring to FIGS. 1and 17 20, a preferred embodiment of the transfer arrangement of thepresent invention is shown. A transfer car 26 is provided which tions188 and 190. Each of the load beams is spaced from each other by adistance such that when the entire load carrier 20 is disposed upon thetransfer car 26 in transfer position, each of the load carrier rollers34 and 36 will be disposed directly above load beams 192 and 194,respectively.

As best viewed in FIGS. 18 and 20, each of the load beams comprises apair of a vertical plates 196, each having a generally horizontal web198 over part of their length which extends toward the center of the bedportion 186. A heavy rigid bar 200 is welded between the other ends ofeach of the plates 196 and is rigidly at tached at its other end, as bywelding, to the rigid frame structure of each of the raised end portions188 and 190 of the transfer car. The horizontal web 198 terminates shortof the inner end of the bar 200 and a roller 202 is rotatably mountedupon the vertical plates 196 in the space between the end of the web 198and bar 200. Rigidly attachedby bolts 206 to the horizontal web 198 ofeach of the load beams 192 193 and 194,

is a rigid plate 208 which connects the load beams together maintainingthe beams horizontally spaced from each other while providing a smoothpersonnel walking surface. A pair of rails 210 and 212 are disposed uponthe bed in perpendicular relationship to the load beams 192, 193 and194. The rails 210 and 212 are spaced from each other by a distanceidentical to the spacing of the aisle rails 16. The points ofintersection of the rails 210 and 212 with the load beams 192, 193 and194 are proximate to the rollers 202 and 204, respectively,and at thosepoints each of the rails, at best seen in FIG. 20, carries a notch 214substantially through its vertical web portion 216 and lower flange 217.The notches 214 allow the rails to be inserted in a straddlingrelationship over the load beams 192, 193 and 194 such that the rollingsurface 218 of the rails 210 and 212 may be positioned at the level ofthe rolling surface of the aisle rails 16 without necessitating the useof a pit or depression in the floor beneath the transfer car 26 toprovide for the proper alignment of the rails rolling surfaces.Moreover, if any deflection is realized in the transfer car bed portion186, movement of the transfer car would not be inhibited by contact ofthe lower flange 217 of the rails 210 and 212 with the transfer carrails 182, 183 and 184, since the notches 214 would accommodate thetransfer car rails by also straddling them.

The side of the transfer car facing the storage frames carries a pair ofprojecting frames 222 mounted upon each of the raised end portions 188and 190. A hydraulic cylinder and piston 224 and tapered plunger 226having a tapered portion 227, is mounted on each of the frames 222. Arail-like base 228 resting upon the floor, extends parallel to thetransfer car rails 182, 183 and 184 between transfer car rail 184 andthe storage frames. Spaced along the rail-like bars 228, 'at preselectedpositions, are a plurality of raised plates 230 each having an opening232 therein of a size to accommodate the plunger 226. When aligningthe'bed of the transfer car 26 with a selected aisle, the transfer caris approximately placed in alignment with the aisle and the hydraulicpiston 224 and plunger 226 is actuated forcing the plunger 226 in adownward direction. If the bed 186 is closely, but not exactly alignedwith the aisle, the tapered portion 227 of each of the plungers uponentering the openings 232 in each of the plates 230, will cause thefinal necessary vernier movement of the entire transfer car in onedirection or the other as necessary. Also, the plungers 226, when intheir downward disposition in the plate openings 232, will lock in placethe transfer car preventing any movement whatsoever of the transfer carduring the storage and retrieval operation or, more generally, duringmovement of the load carrier on and off the bed of the transfer car.

The raised end portions 188 and 190 of the transfer car are constructedof suitable structural framing which will not be described in detail.Mounted upon raised end portion 188 is a hydraulic pump 232 foroperating the hydraulic cylinder and piston 234 as previously described.Also mounted upon raised end portion 188, are a pair of drive rollers234 which engage the transfer car rails 182 and 184. As best seen inFIG. 19, a trans fer car drive motor 236 is carried upon end portion 188and drivingly rotates a pair of drive shafts 238 via a suitable gear box240; the drive shafts 238, in turn, driving the drive rollers 234. Sincethe transfer car is subjected to excessive loads, the drive shafts 238are preferably journaled in pillow blocks 242 mounted on the frame ofthe transfer car. Raised end portion 190 carries a second pair ofrollers 244 which also engage the transfer car rails 182 and 184. Theserollers 244 are also rotatably mounted to the frame of the transfer carvia pillow blocks 246 and the rollers 244 preferably idle duringmovement of the transfer car. Referring to FIG. 17, the raised endportions 188 and 190 also each carry a stop 250 which is positioned toengage a bumper 252 mounted upon the load carrier to position the loadcarrier on the transfer car 26 for transfer between the aisles.

When considering the above detailed description of the transfer car, itwill be noted that the weight of the load carrier is evenly distributedto the rails 182, 183 and 184 principally through the rollers 202 and toa substantially lesser extent through their associated rollers 234 and244 via the rigid bar 200 and the end portions frames. The plate 208 isnot subjected to the vertical forces resulting from the weight of theload carrier, the plate 208 merely acting to maintain the load beams andrails 210 and 212 properly horizontally spaced from each other. I

Referring again to FIG. 1, the frame structure of each of the raised endportions 188 and 190 also acts to support the pick-up conveyor 28anddelivery conveyor 30, respectively. These conveyors may be permanentlyattached to their respective raised end portions and may be either ofthe powered or gravity operated type. The pick-up and delivery end ofeach of the conveyors may be suitably interrupted as at 248 to allowinsertion and lifting of the forks 24 and 25 of the lift platform of theload carrier 20. It will readily be seen that when the transfer car ismoved from one aisle to another aisle, the pick-up conveyor 28 anddelivery conveyor are also moved simultaneously therewith, thusobviating the need of separate conveyors for each aisle.

From the aforemention description of the preferred embodiment of thestorage and retrieval arrangement of my invention, the operation of thatembodiment will be evident. However, for the purpose of clarity, adetailed description of the operation follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION At the commencement of operation itwill be assumed that the load carrier 20 and transfer car 26 areproperly aligned with the aisle in which it is desired to store andretrieve articles, for example aisle 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Let us alsoassume that a palletized, article has been delivered from the right, asviewed in FIG. 1, has moved by gravity down the rolls of pick-upconveyor28, and has come to rest adjacent the end of the storage frame 2and the load carrier 20. The load carrier 20 is partially disposed uponthe transfer car 26 such that its lift platform 22 is disposed betweenthe pick-up conveyor 28 and the delivery conveyor 30 at their storageframe ends; the load carrier rollers 36 being disposed upon the rails210 and 212 of the transfer car and the load carrier rollers 34extending into the aisle and resting upon aisle rails 16. Also beforecommencing operation, the lift platform 22 has been lowered to the levelof the pick-up conveyor 28 in preparation for picking up the article tobe removed therefrom and stored in the appropriate storage bin.

An appropriate order is now entered by the operator in the controlswitchboard 180, informing the load carrier 20 where to store thearticle now located upon the pick-up conveyor 28. At the same time anorder may be given to the load carrier 20, via the control switchboard180, telling the loaded carrier 20 where to go to retrieve a storedarticle for the purpose of bringing the article out to the deliveryconveyor 30 after the article which is now on the pick-up conveyor hasbeen stored. These orders might be given to the control switchboard atthe same time or individually at different times depending upon theswitchboard construction, the details of which are not deemed to be partof the herein described invention.

Assuming that both a storage and a retrieval order are givensimultaneously to the load carrier 20 for purposes of describing thefull mechanical operation of the arrangement, the lift platform forks 24and 25 are telescopically extended from the lift platform 22 beneath thearticle resting upon the pick-up conveyor 28. Referring particularly toFIGS. 5, 6, l5 and 16, when the forks 24 and 25 are to be extended, anelectrical signal, via appropriate circuitry (not shown), energizes thefork operating motor 60, rotating sprocket 166, chain 168, sprocket 164,and drive shaft 162, as viewed in FIG. 6. Rotation of the shaft 162rotates gears 158 and 160 also in the same direction, as viewed in FIG.'15. Since the gears 158 and 160 mesh with gears 146 and 148respectively, the rotation of gears 158 and 160 in one direction causethe gears 146 and 148 to rotate in the opposite direction. Gears 146 and148 engage the teeth of the racks 144 at the bottom of one each of theS-shaped side bars 126 and 128, driving the S-shaped side bars in thedirection of rotation of gears 146 and 148. The S-shaped sidebars 126and 128 carry their associated T-bars in the same direction as themoving S-shaped side bars. Upon movement of the S-shaped side bars 126and 128, gears are also carried in the direction of the latter mentionedmovement. Since each of the gears 150 are in toothed engagement withmovement of the T-bars 140 proceeds-at agreater speed than said givenspeed in the same direction.

When the forks 24 and 25 have been fully extended beneath the article onthe pick-up conveyor 28 into its interrupted area 248, the forkoperating motor 60 is deenergized and the hoist lift motor 62 isenergized to lift the platform 22 toengage the forks 24 and 25 with thebottom of the article and lift the article free of the pick-up conveyor28.

To lift the lift. platform 22 and its associated forks 24 and 25, thehoist lift motor 62 is energized in a direction to rotate the sprocket87, chain 89, and sprocket 79, and shaft 64 in a clockwise direction,referring particularly to FIG. 7. Rotation of the shaft 64 in aclockwise direction causes rotation, in a clockwise direction, ofsprockets 76, 77 and 78, which in turn causes rotation, also in aclockwise direction, of chains 90 and 93 and double chains 91 and 92. Asdescribed earlier the clockwise rotation of the chains 90 and 93 causesa lifting force to be exerted upon the upper rollers 99 mounted on theend panel 52 of the lift platform,the chains 90 and 93 being slackedabout the lower roller 99 and beneath the lift platform. The clockwiserotation of double chains 91 and 92 causes a lifting force to be exertedupon the upper block 95 mounted on the end panel 54 of the liftplatform, the double chains 91 and 92 being slacked at the lower block95 and beneath the platform. As the forks 24 and 25 come into contactwith the bottom of the article during the aforementioned lifting of thelift platform, the article is lifted free of the pick-up conveyor 28 andthe forks are now retracted onto the lift platform by-operation of thefork operating motor 60 in a direction opposite to that previouslydescribed.

When the forks 24 and 25 have been fully retracted and the article to bestored is disposed upon the lift platform 22, the drive motor 170 maynow be energized to move the load carrier longitudinally down the aisle12 to the desired storage location. As the load carrier 20 is movinghorizontally down the aisle, operation of the hoist lift motor 62 maycontinue until the lift platform 22 is properly vertically positionedwith respect to the location of the bin in which it is desired to storethe article. Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive motor170, upon being energized, drives the rollers 36 in the appropriatedirection, via the gear box 174, drive shafts 172, drive gears 176, andgears 178, to move the load carrier 20 longitudinally into the aisle 12.When the load carrier 20 is properly horizontally positioned and itslift platform 22 is vertically positioned with respect to the bin inwhich it is desired to store the article, the forks 24 and are againextended in the appropriate direction in the manner previously describedinto the proper bin and the article to be stored is carried into thebin. The lift platform 22 is then slightly lowered by the hoist liftmotor 62 disposing the article upon the supporting horizontal members 4in the bin and disengaging the forks from the bottom of the article. Theforks 24 and 25 are then retracted onto the platform 22, and the loadcarrier is ready to proceed to the bin from which it is desired toretrieve an article.

During horizontal movement of the load carrier 20 to the location of thebin from which it is desired to remove an article, the hoist lift motor62 operates to raise or lower the lift platform 22 as necessary toposition the lift platform vertically with respect to the forthcomingbin. When the load carrier 20 and lift platform 22 are properlypositioned in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to thebin, the forks 24 and 25 are again extended beneath the article desiredto be retrieved, and the lift platform 22 is raised slightly again tocontact the extended forks with the bottom of the article and lift thearticle free of its storage bin. The forks 24 and 25 are then retracteduntil the article is disposed upon the lift platform 22. The drive motor170 and the hoist lift motor 62 are again energized moving the loadcarrier 20 longitudinally down the aisle toward the transfer car 26 andlowering the lift platform 22 to the level of the delivery conveyor 30,respectively.

The load carrier 20 moves horizontally down the aisle 12 until itsrollers 36 are again disposed upon rails 21C and 212 of the transfer car26; its rollers 34 resting upon the rails 16 in the aisle. When the loadcarrier 20 is so disposed, the lift platform 22 has been lowered to thelevel of the delivery conveyor 30, and the drive motor and hoist liftmotor 62 has been deenergized, the fork operating motor 60 is againenergized extending the forks 24 and 25 into the interruptions 248 ofthe delivery conveyor 30, carrying the retrieved article from the liftplatform 22 and disposing the article vertically above the rollers ofthe delivery conveyor 30. When the forks 24 and 25 are fully extended,the hoist lift motor 62 is again energized to slightly lower the liftplatform 22, causing the forks to drop beneath the surface of therollers of the delivery platform and deposit the article upon therollers. As soon as the article is deposited upon the rollers anddisengaged from the forks 24 and 25, the article moves to the right, asviewed in FIG. 1, down the delivery conveyor 30 by either power orgravity depending on the construction of the conveyor and the forks maybe again retracted as previously described. Thus, the load carrier isnow ready to receive another order from the control switchboard toeither store and/or retrieve another article as hereinbefore described.

If it is desired to store or retrieve an article in another one of theaisles, the load carrier 20 may be transferred from the aisle in whichit is located to the desired aisle. To transfer the load carrier, thedrive motor 170 is again energized driving the load carrier 20 to theright as viewed in FIG. 1 until the load carrier is completely disposedupon the bed portion 186 of the transfer car 26. Theload carrier 20moves to the right until its bumpers 252 engage the stops 250 mounted onthe raised end portions 188 and 190 of the transfer car. Upon engagementof the stops and bumpers, he drive motor 170 is deenergized and the loadcarrier is positioned such that its rollers 36 are disposed upon therails 210 and 212 directly over the load beam 192 and its rollers 34 arealso disposed upon the rails 210 and 212 but directly over the load beam194. The rails 210 and 212 are located closely adjacent the rollers 202which are rotatably mounted upon their respective load beams.Consequently, a substantially direct line of support of the load carrier20 to the transfer car rails 182 and 184 is realized principally throughrollers 202. Such direct support prevents excessive deflection of thebed 186 of the transfer car which might result from the relativelyexcessive weight of the load carrier. Thus, the possibility of scrapingand resulting interference of the transfer car with the transfer carrails, 182, 183 and 184 on floor during movement of the transfer carwhich would result from such deflection is avoided. If any slightdeflection of the bed is in fact realized, interference with thetransverse movement of the transfer car does not occur since the rails210 and 212 would merely straddle the transfer car rails 182, 183 and184 at their notches 214, as best seen in FIG. 20. When the load carrier20 has been fully disposed upon the transfer car 26, its upper rightangled frame members 42 and 44 and their associated rollers 46 and 48are moved off the overhead rail 18 due to the fact that the railterminates shortly beyond the end of the storage frames 1, 2 and 3.Thus, transverse movement of the load carrier 20 and transfer car 26 ismade possible.

Referring to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, when the load carrier 20 has beenfully disposed upon the transfer car 26, the drive motor 236 of thetransfer car is energized rotating the drive rollers 234 in theappropriate direction via the gear box 240 and drive shafts 238. Thetransfer car 26 is thus moved either to the right or the left as desiredtoward the aisle in which it is desired to operate the load carrier 20.The transfer car 26 is driven for example toward the aisle 14, as shownin FIG. l,'until the rails 210 and 212 of the transfer car are fairlyclosely aligned with the rails 16 of the desired aisle 14. The transfercar drive motor 236 is then deenergized and the hydraulic pump 232isenergized, pressurizing the hydraulic cylinder and piston 224 andmoving the tapered plunger 226 in a downward direction. If the transfercar rails 210 and 212 are slightly misaligned with respect to the aislerails 16, the. tapered portion 227 of the plungers 226 operate toprovide a final fine vernier alignment of the aforementioned rails. Thefine vernier alignment is affected by the entry of the plunger taperedportions 227 into their respective openings 232 in the plates 230,causing the entire transfer car 26 to move slightly to the right or leftas necessary until the plunger 226 is centered in the plate opening 232.When the rails 210 and 212 of the transfer car are aligned with therails 16 of the aisle and the tapered plunger 226 is fully inserted inthe opening 232 of the plate, the transfer car 26 is locked in positionand movement of the transfer car is prevented during operation of theload carrier '20 in the desired aisle.

Since the pick-up conveyor 28 and delivery conveyor 30 are supported bythe raised end portions 188 and 190 of the transfer car 26, theconveyors are also transferred simultaneously with the load carrier 20.Thus, the need for a multiplicity of conveyors is obviated since onlyone pair of conveyors need be provided for use with any one of theaisles.

After alignment of the transfer car rails 210 and 212 and the aislerails 16, the drive motor 170 of the load carrier is again energized tomove the load carrier into operating position with respect to the newaisle 14. The load carrier 20 is moved horizontally partially into theaisle such that its rollers 36 remain upon the transfer car rails 210and 212 and its rollers 34 are again supported by the aisle rails 16 butnow in aisle 14. The load carrier 20 may now be operated as previouslydescribed to remove article from the pick-up conveyor 28 and store thearticles in the appropriate bins in the new aisle l4 and to removearticles from the appropriate bins in that aisle and deliver them to thedelivery conveyor 30.

It should be understood that the embodiment of the invention which hasbeen described is merely illustrative of one of the applications of theprinciples of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the true spirt and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage and retrieval arrangement including a substantiallyhorizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged inspaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least apair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported andmovable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollersand including means for transferring articles into and out of saidstorage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combinationtherewith;

transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles fortransferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to theother of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto saidtransfer 6 being spaced from each other in the direction of movement ofsaid load carrier means, said load beams being positioned between thefloor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter ison said transfer means,

spaced rollers rotatably mounted on each of said load beams andsupporting said transfer means for movement on said floor, the floors ofsaid aisles and the floor upon which said transfer means is supportedbeing coplanar with each other,

first support means on said transfer means and second support means onthe floors of said aisles for supporting said load carrier for movement,said first and second support means being coplanar with each other,

said first support means being positioned proximate said beam mountedrollers in the direction of movement of said transfer means, and saidbeams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other in thedirection of movement of said load carrier means by a predetermineddistance which is substantially equal to the distance in said latterdirection between the rollers which support said load carrier means,such that when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfermeans for transfer between the aisles, the spaced rollers of the loadcarrier means are simultaneously disposed directly above the load beamsand vertically proximately to the beam mounted'roller's both in thedirection of movement of said load carrier means and said transfermeans, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributeddirectlyand substantially entirely to said floor upon which saidtransfer means is supported through said vertically proximate beamrollers when said load carrier means is positioned upon said transfermeans preventing deflection of the load beams.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of said load supporting beamsinclude at least one of said beam mounted rollers and said rollers arespaced from each other both in the direction of movement of said loadcarrier means and said transfer means.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said load supporting beams arealso spaced from each other in both of said directions of movement, saidload beams being spaced from each other in the direction of movement ofsaid transfer means by plate means, said plate means being positioned innon-supporting relationship to said load carrier.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 including additional rollers on saidtransfer means associated with load support beams, said spaced rollersof said load carrier means being positioned between said spaced beammounted rollers and said additionalrollers, but substantially nearersaid beam mounted rollers than said additional rollers, when said loadcarrier means is disposed upon said transfer means.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said transfermeans includes a bed,for receiving said load carrier means, and including aisle rails mountedin the aisles on the floor thereof,

at least one bed rail mounted on said bed, said bed rail being axiallyalignable with respective ones of said aisle rails, and

said plurality of spaced rollers on said load carrier means normallyrollably engaging said aisle rails and rollably engaging said bed railwhen said load carrier means is being received by and discharged fromsaid bed, said load carrier means rollers being disposed on said bedrails when said load carrier means is being transferred from one aisleto the other aisle by said transfer means.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said transfer means support meansincludes at least a pair of rails on said transfer means supported bysaid load beams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, aplurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor upon which said transfermeans moves, said beam mounted rollers rollably supporting said transfermeans on said last mentioned rails, and said rails on said transfermeans being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers to accommodatethe passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floor railstherethrough.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said load beams are secured to therails on said transfer means in regions substantially entirely above thelower edges 1 of said rails on said transfer means so that the loadbeams are entirely above the level of the floor.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 including means to position and lock thetransfer means in aligned relationship with the aisles.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which said alignment means includes atapered plunger.

10. The arrangement of claim 1' including conveyor means supported bysaid transfer means, sadi transfer means also transferring said conveyormeans from one aisle to the other aisle when said load carier means isbeing transferred.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said conveyor means comprises apick-up conveyor and a delivery conveyor and said load carrier means isdisposed at least partially on said transfer means when picking up ordelivery articles from and to said conveyors, respectively.

12. A storage and retrieval arrangement including a plurality of storageframes arranged in spaced relationship to each other and defining atleast a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means movablelongitudinally in saidaisles and including means for transferringarticles into and out of said storage frames, and transfer .meansmovable in a direction across the aisles for transferring said loadcarrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles whensaid load carrier is moved onto said transfer means, wherein theimprovement comprises in combination therewith:

a plurality of first support means supporting said transfer means at aplurality of locations spaced a predetermined distance from each otherin the direction of movement of said load carrier means, said firstsupport means supporting said transfer means for movement between saidaisles,

a plurality of second support means supporting said load carrier meansat a plurality of locations also spaced from each other in the directionof movement of said load carrier by a distance substantially equal tosaid first mentioned distance and supporting said load carrier means formovement in said aisles and between said transfer means and said aisles,said second spaced support means being simultaneously substantiallyvertically alignable with respective ones of said first support meansboth in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and saidtransfer means when said load carrier means is positioned on saidtransfer means for transfer between said aisles, whereby the weight ofthe load carrier means is distributed substantially entirely to saidvertically aligned first support means and deflection of said transfermeans is minimiz ed. I

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said transfer means includes aplurality of spaced load beams, said first support means being mountedupon said load beams, the spacing between-said load beams in thedirection of movement of said load carrier means being substantiallyequal to the spacing distance of said second support means, whereby saidsecond support means overlie said load beams when the load carrier meansis positioned on said transfer means for transfer between said aisles.

14. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said first and second supportmeans includes rollers.

15. A storage and retrievel arrangement including a substantiallyhorizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged inspaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least apair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported andmovable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollersand including means for transferring articles into and out of saidstorage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combinationtherewith;

a plurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor of said floored area,transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles fortransferring said load carrier means from one of said. aisles to theother of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto saidtransfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced loadsupporting beams and a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted onthe beams, said load beams being positioned between the floor of saidfloored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on saidtransfer means, said beam mounted rollers supporting said transfer meanson said rails during movement between said aisles,

the floors of said aisles and the floor supporting said transfer meansbeing coplanar,

support means on said transfer means and on the floor of said aisles forsupporting said load carrier for movement, said support means beingcoplanar with each other, said transfer means support means including atleast a pair of rails on said transfer means supported by said loadbeams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, said rails on saidtransfer means being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers toaccommodate the passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floorrails therethrough, and

said beams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other bya predetermined distance such that when said load carrier means isdisposed upon said transfer means, the spaced rollers of the loadcarrier means are disposed directly above the load beams and verticallyproximate to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction of movementof said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby the weightof the load carrier means is distributed directly to the load beams andload beam rollers preventing deflection of the load beams.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein said load beams are secured tothe rails on said transfer means in regions substantially entirely abovethe lower edges of said rails on said transfer means so that the loadbeams are entirely above the level of the fioor.

1. A storage and retrieval arrangement including a substantiallyhorizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged inspaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least apair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported andmovable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollersand including means for transferring articles into and out of saidstorage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combinationtherewith; transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles fortransferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to theother of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto saidtransfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced loadsupporting beams extending in the direction of movement of said transfermeans and being spaced from each other in the direction of movement ofsaid load carrier means, said load beams being positioned between thefloor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter ison said transfer means, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on each of saidload beams and supporting said transfer means for movement on saidfloor, the floors of said aisles and the floor upon which said transfermeans is supported being coplanar with each other, first support meanson said transfer means and second support means on the floors of saidaisles for supporting said load carrier for movement, said first andsecond support means being coplanar with each other, said first supportmeans being positioned proximate said beam mounted rollers in thedirection of movement of said transfer means, and said beams and saidbeam mounted rollers being spaced from each other in the direction ofmovement of said load carrier means by a predetermined distance which issubstantially equal to the distance in said latter direction between therollers which support said load carrier means, such that when said loadcarrier means is disposed upon said transfer means for transfer betweenthe aisles, the spaced rollers of the load carrier means aresimultaneously disposed directly above the load beams and verticallyproximately to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction ofmovement of said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby theweight of the load carrier means is distributed directly andsubstantially entirely to said floor upon which said transfer means issupported through said vertically proximate beam rollers when said loadcarrier means is positioned upon said transfer means preventingdeflection of the load beams.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein eachof said load supporting beams include at least one of said beam mountedrollers and said rollers are spaced from each other both in thedirection of movement of said load carrier means and said transfermeans.
 3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said load supporting beamsare also spaced from each other in both of said directions of movement,said load beams being spaced from each other in the direction ofmovement of said transfer means by plate means, said plate means beingpositioned in non-supporting relationship to said load carrier.
 4. Thearrangement of claim 1 including additional rollers on said transfermeans associated with load support beams, said spaced rollers of saidload carrier means being positioned between said spaced beam mountedrollers and said additional rollers, but substantially nearer said beammounted rollers than said additional rollers, when said load carriermeans is disposed upon said transfer means.
 5. The arrangement of claim1 wherein said transfer means includes a bed for receiving said loadcarrier means, and including aisle rails mounted in the aisles on thefloor thereof, at least one bed rail mounted on said bed, said bed railbeing axially alignable with respective ones of said aisle rails, andsaid plurality of spaced rollers on said load carrier means normallyrollably engaging said aisle rails and rollably engaging said bed railwhen said load carrier means is being received by and discharged fromsaid bed, said load carrier means rollers being disposed on said bedrails when said load carrier means is being transferred from one aisleto the other aisle by said transfer means.
 6. The arrangement of claim 1wherein said transfer means support means includes at least a pair ofrails on said transfer means supported by said load beams at pointsadjacent said beam mounted rollers, a plurality of spaced parallel railson the floor upon which said transfer means moves, said beam mountedrollers rollably supporting said transfer means on said last mentionedrails, and said rails on said transfer means being notched adjacent saidbeam mounted rollers to accommodate the passage of said load beams andthe spaced parallel floor rails therethrough.
 7. The arrangement ofclaim 6 wherein said load beams are secured to the rails on saidtransfer means in regions substantially entirely above the lower edgesof said rails on said transfer means so that the load beams are entirelyabove the level of the floor.
 8. The arrangement of claim 1 includingmeans to position and lock the transfer means in aligned relationshipwith the aisles.
 9. The arrangement of claim 8 in which said alignmentmeans includes a tapered plunger.
 10. The arrangement of claim 1including conveyor means supported by said transfer means, sadi transfermeans also transferring said conveyor means from one aisle to the otheraisle when said load carier means is being transferred.
 11. Thearrangement of claim 10 wherein said conveyor means comprises a pick-upconveyor and a delivery conveyor and said load carrier means is disposedat least partially on said transfer means when picking up or deliveryarticles from and to said conveyors, respectively.
 12. A storage andretrieval arrangement including a plurality of storage frames arrangedin spaced relationship to each other and defining at least a pair ofaisles therebetween, load carrier means movable longitudinally in saidaisles and including means for transferring articles into and out ofsaid storage frames, and transfer means movable in a direction acrossthe aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of saidaisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier is moved ontosaid transfer means, wherein the improvement comprises in combinationtherewith: a plurality of first support means supporting said transfermeans at a plurality of locations spaced a predetermined distance fromeach other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means, saidfirst support means supporting said transfer means for movement betweensaid aisles, a plurality of second supPort means supporting said loadcarrier means at a plurality of locations also spaced from each other inthe direction of movement of said load carrier by a distancesubstantially equal to said first mentioned distance and supporting saidload carrier means for movement in said aisles and between said transfermeans and said aisles, said second spaced support means beingsimultaneously substantially vertically alignable with respective onesof said first support means both in the direction of movement of saidload carrier means and said transfer means when said load carrier meansis positioned on said transfer means for transfer between said aisles,whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributedsubstantially entirely to said vertically aligned first support meansand deflection of said transfer means is minimized.
 13. The arrangementof claim 12 wherein said transfer means includes a plurality of spacedload beams, said first support means being mounted upon said load beams,the spacing between said load beams in the direction of movement of saidload carrier means being substantially equal to the spacing distance ofsaid second support means, whereby said second support means overliesaid load beams when the load carrier means is positioned on saidtransfer means for transfer between said aisles.
 14. The arrangement ofclaim 12 wherein said first and second support means includes rollers.15. A storage and retrievel arrangement including a substantiallyhorizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged inspaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least apair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported andmovable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollersand including means for transferring articles into and out of saidstorage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combinationtherewith; a plurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor of saidfloored area, transfer means movable in a direction across said aislesfor transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to theother of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto saidtransfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced loadsupporting beams and a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted onthe beams, said load beams being positioned between the floor of saidfloored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on saidtransfer means, said beam mounted rollers supporting said transfer meanson said rails during movement between said aisles, the floors of saidaisles and the floor supporting said transfer means being coplanar,support means on said transfer means and on the floor of said aisles forsupporting said load carrier for movement, said support means beingcoplanar with each other, said transfer means support means including atleast a pair of rails on said transfer means supported by said loadbeams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, said rails on saidtransfer means being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers toaccommodate the passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floorrails therethrough, and said beams and said beam mounted rollers beingspaced from each other by a predetermined distance such that when saidload carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means, the spacedrollers of the load carrier means are disposed directly above the loadbeams and vertically proximate to the beam mounted rollers both in thedirection of movement of said load carrier means and said transfermeans, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributeddirectly to the load beams and load beam rollers preventing deflectionof the load beams.
 16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein said loadbeams are secured to the rails on said transfer means in regionssubstantially entirely above the lower edges of said rails on saidtransfer means so that the load beams are entirely above the level ofthe floor.